Buffs host Central Arkansas

For the third game in a row, West Texas A&M will meet an unbeaten team.

The Buffs will try to hand Central Arkansas its first loss of the season when the teams meet at 7 tonight in the WT Event Center.

WT opened its season by losing to the Bears, 76-70, in overtime Nov. 19 in Conway, Ark. The Buffs won their next two games before losing back-to-back three-point decisions against Southwestern Oklahoma State at home.

Central Arkansas, ranked 23rd in this week's NABC Top 25 Poll, defeated Arkansas Baptist 79-69 for its sixth win of the season Dec. 2.

''The game at Central Arkansas was one we had an opportunity to win,'' WT head coach Rick Cooper said. ''We had a lead late in the game and didn't hold it.''

WT junior guard Govinda Thomas-Carter sank two free throws with nine seconds remaining in regulation for a 60-57 lead before UCA's Lamar Grimes nailed a 3-pointer as time expired to force the overtime.

The Buffs were led by Carl Lamb's 24 points, with Thomas-Carter adding 18. Grimes, averaging 14.7 points, led the Bears with 19.

The teams are meeting for the third time overall, with Central Arkansas having won the previous games. The Buffs are 2-2 at home this season and 26-11 at the WT Event Center.

Jamil Terrell has had four double-doubles for the Buffs in their first six games. He is averaging 15.5 points and 13 rebounds while shooting 56.4 percent from the field. Lamb is averaging 13.2 points and Thomas-Carter 12.8.

''We have shown signs of being a good team so far,'' Cooper said, ''but have lacked consistency. The fact is we have lost three games to two teams that are undefeated this season. We have put ourselves in position to win them but didn't. That is what we must do, find a way to finish games off and win when we have the chance.

''It's way too early in the year to try and over-analyze ourselves. Our main goal right now is to improve every time we practice and carry that over to the games.''

Cooper said his club will have two new players for this game - senior Jason Campbell who played last year and junior guard Ronnie Holmes. Each became eligible at the end of the first semester.

WT will travel to Tarleton State on Monday, then play in the High Desert Classic at Las Vegas, Nev., on Dec. 18-19 before concluding the month with a home game against Panhandle State University on Dec. 30.